Aphorisms and Adages

If at first you don’t succeed, try try again. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. These sayings resonate with me.

You see, this is the post I didn’t plan. I actually shot photos for two different posts and ended up with this one. I had no idea what to write about.

So I made myself some tea and started thinking about the fact that I’ve been feeling empty, in a good way. I haven’t known what to say when asked how I want to spend the next day, week, or month. I’ve been ignoring the little voice that says I “should” be planning and strategizing.

The truth is, I don’t have to right now. I have lots of sayings to back me up, too! For instance: “Sitting quietly, doing nothing, Spring comes and the grass grows” -Zen Proverb. I believe it’s Franz Kafka who said, ”Just be quiet and still and the world will offer itself to you to be unmasked”, and one of my favorites: “Don’t just do something. Stand there.”- attributed to Buddha.

Of course I’m reminded by Ecclesiastes 3:1: “To everything there is a season”. I guess I don’t need to elaborate on that one. Just check back with me next week; I’m sure to be bursting with plots and plans again. I might even know what I’m going to post about. It’s all good.

24 Responses to Aphorisms and Adages

Love this post! We all need to be reminded to be still at times and enjoy the peace. Our world today promotes busy-ness….but there is strength in quite reflection. You look lovely in that amazing coat! Often in times of quiet, we find directions to go which are new and thrilling. I look forward to hearing if you have discovered something new! Have a great week!

ooo, lovely quotes all of them. What a great place to be, enjoy it while it lasts. Oh, I’m doing it too. All the bits and pieces of your ensemble look as though they were destined to come together for your personal sensation. woo-hoo!

For not having anything to write about, you had a lot to say! Sounds like mindfulness to me and a state that is revered for its healthy benefits. Knowing you, something exciting and creative will come of this.

Your coat is a piece of art and the earrings picked up the colors in the coat pattern as though they were made for each other. Pao put it perfectly! It must have been destiny!

I love every single thing about this outfit, Jean. The coat is stunning, the hat adorable and the earrings so pretty. This is just an all around fabulous outfit..made even prettier because its worn by you.

Those are all really wonderful quotes! While not writing a lot, what you said was incredibly inspiring! It can be wonderful to just enjoy peace and quiet, to sit and look at a tree or to just go outside and look at the sky. Lovely pictures, and I love the earthy tones of this ensemble. Gorgeous hat too.

O’ sometimes, to just bask in the stillness of silence, now that is heavenly. I can’t think of a better place to be in life than sipping a cup of tea with no plans in mind. Now I know why you look so lovely all of the time. Enjoy this stillness while it lasts.

My best posts have come from an empty seat if you will, like the one you were sitting on- I call it my jazz writing improv. Sometimes a most powerful point will be made, one you hadn’t yet thought up, due to the moment of calm before you set proverbial paper to pen. I love this post- it also shows up a glimpse behind the, your, creative process. That creation isn’t all inspiration. There are phases, stages, seasons if you will, and when you are dedicated to the act as much as you are devoted to the muse, you will make things that connect to others.

Hi Jean, well, we’re not twins for nothing. That is EXACTLY how I’ve felt the last couple of weeks. Nothing wrong, specifically: I just couldn’t seem to “get going” or “get fired up about anything”. Just doing not much seemed to be OK. Goodness knows why.

I feel a bit more jazzed up lately, but I wouldn’t say back to normal speed. Roll on spring and summer, I say!

What a calm and elegant outfit, Jean, like this post itself and your state of mind! I often start off with a blank screen and don’t think I have much to say in a blog post, but then stuff just tumbles out anyway…
Love the soft colours and the wondrous boots. And don’t you look fab in that hat? xxxxx

February is a hard month, when many of us are subdued into silence and a dearth of plans – but it’s behind us now and spring is just round the corner! Your outfit is beautiful and I especially covet the coat!

Those quotes are just the tonic I need, everything’s a bit hectic at the moment, a couple of hours of quiet contemplation could be just what the doctor ordered.
I love that coat, it’s absolutely beautiful, and on you it’s a work of art! xxx

With all my noise about Monkey Mind, you have the absolute right of it. Creativity pours in much more easily when it doesn’t have to share space in the consciousness!
That coat … THAT COAT! With the hat, with your armlets … such an artist you are!

How beautiful and peaceful to “just be.” Your combination of colour, texture, and silhouette are marvellous as always – I love the botanical shapes in the earrings and gorgeous coat, the colour picked up by the awesome boots, and the shape of this hat is stunning on you! Big love, xo

First I thought I was looking at Judith from the Style Crone, and then I realized it was you Jean! You’re so elegant in this outfit, and you really have a great face for hats!

Having these empty moments and then stretches of busy planning and working reminds me of those Japanese water features made of bamboo. Water will fill a pipe that tips over when it’s full, emptying the water out into a little stream. The empty pipe returns to upright position, and is slowly filled again…

Stunning outfit Jean. The cashmere cowl and the armlets really belong with the coat. I love your words, feeling empty, in a good way. It’s kind of like the perfect pause in poetry…gives us time to really hear the words being spoken and look forward to the next line. I think we benefit from pausing in our own selves in much the same way.

Number 2 photo of you – all seated, relaxed beauty and reveling in ‘taking a moment’. I especially love the Buddhist saying: a great reminder to stop and breathe, and be. I’m sure I’m only repeating myself but your smile beams so strongly from the computer screen that I can feel the warmth from here!